As electrical retailers disappear from the High Street - what's the best way to buy gadgets now?

The failures of Comet, Jessops and HMV in the space of a few weeks mean that more electrical stores will be disappearing from the high street.

With the demise of specialist retailers it has become harder for shoppers to browse in-store to seek advice from sales staff.

Gadget fans are now, more than ever, inclined to search online – but this can be a confusing prospect for some and it’s hard to tell if you’re getting a good deal. Our guide helps explain some secrets to buying electrical goods for less.

High street vs internet: With more electrical stores closing their doors more and more gadget fans are turning to the internet.

What are you after?

The first step is to decide exactly what the best item is for your needs.

When it comes to electrical goods there are many variations of the same type of products available and the specifications can be confusing.

For example, if you’re looking to buy a laptop there might be two models with similar names but when you look at the detailed specifications they could be completely different technology.

Luckily there are many websites which break down the often confusing technological jargon into plain English.

If you want to get an overall view then websites like Which? will give you a summary and review of products.

Don’t forget about the bloggers – some of the most helpful reviews will come from people like you who may have written up their thoughts on a product.

At the risk of teaching readers something they already know, once you’ve decided on what you want you should turn to an internet search engine. Type the name of the product plus the phrase ‘review’ into a search box and bookmark those you find helpful.

Expert knowledge: Websites like Stuff.tv and Pocket-lint are a good place to read reviews and do research

Internet vs. high street

Now you know exactly what it is you are after, it’s time to work out whether it is best to buy online or on the high street.

For example, the Nikon D7000 Digital SLR is available at the time of writing at Currys for the reduced price of £629.99.

However, just a few clicks away on Digital Rev it will only cost £610; a saving of nearly £20.

So how do you find these secret discounted prices? There are a number of ways.

Firstly download a tool to your internet browser – like Invisible Hand or Before We Buy – this sits at the top of your screen and alerts you when an item is cheaper elsewhere.

Struggle: More and more people are turning to the internet to find the cheapest priced gadgets

Cashback

One of the benefits of shopping online is that you could earn cashback on your purchases. Websites like Quidco, TopCashback or the Daily Mail Rewards Clubwill allow you to earn cash back on your purchases when shopping online.

You will need to sign up and once you’ve found the cheapest price you can check a cashback website to see if it offers any money back.

You must click through a link to the retailer to purchase the item so that your order can be tracked and the cashback can be paid correctly.

For example, Tesco Direct is offering at the time of writing up to £12.12 or 10.1 per cent on purchases through TopCashback. Currys and Argos are paying 5 per cent and 4 per cent through Quidco.

Safety first: When buying online shoppers need to make sure that the website they're using is secure.

Be safe

It is worth noting that you should make sure before shopping on any website that it is reputable. Simple checks to ensure the seller is legitimate including looking for contact details - a postal address or telephone number.

When paying for goods online make sure the website you are using is secure. The simple way to check is to look for a small padlock symbol on the toolbar.

Additionally, check if the site address changes from http:// to https://. This means the page is secure. If either of these signs fail to appear, don't use the site.

You can do simple research by searching for user reviews of retailer websites. Which? has collated reviews of electrical retailers designed to put your mind at ease when buying online.

Don't forget that if a price looks too good to be true, then it probably is. Never buy from somewhere you don't know that is offering a super-low price without doing some serious research on whether it is legitimate.

Postage and delivery

There’s nothing more annoying than finding a cheap price online and then see it shooting up due to postage and packaging. When you are comparing costs don’t forget to factor this in.

Some high street retailers, such as John Lewis, Argos and Tesco, offer a ‘click and collect’ service – this means you can get their online price but pick up the item in a store nearby, thus avoid delivery charge.

Warranties

Most electrical goods bought in-store or online will come with a standard 12 month warranty. This means that the manufacturer has a right to fix the item if it breaks within this time.

Don’t get sucked into buying an extended warranty in-store – these are often massively overpriced. You should firstly check to see if your home insurance policy covers you – most policies will protect items up to £1,000 in value for theft and damage.

It is less likely they will be covered for breakdown. If you’re going to be using the item outside the home then check that is covered on your policy too.

Protection: Using a credit card or debit card means that your purchase will be protected.

Your right to return items

If
you buy the item online then Distance Selling Regulations allow
customers a seven working day cooling-off period to change their mind.
For goods, this counts from the day the item is delivered.

If
you buy the electrical item in-store and simply change your mind then
you’re at the mercy of the retailer as it is under no obligation to
offer you anything.

However,
most stores operate their own policy and, provided you have proof
of purchase, they will give you a credit note or refund.

How to protect your payment: Paying by debit or credit card?

Items
bought using credit card over £100 and up to £30,000 in value are
covered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

This means that if
anything goes wrong with the purchase then the credit card company must
take responsibility and will reimburse you.

You are also covered if you pay a deposit by credit card and the balance by other means.

Purchases made on debit cards are also protected under the Chargeback scheme. This covers Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards. The rules vary between banks and card providers and consumers have 120 days, from finding out the problem, to contact their card provider to make a claim.

Unlike Section 75 there is no minimum value – so you could use your debit card to make smaller purchase under £100 and still be protected.

Buying online: Using auction websites, like eBay, don't carry the same protection as shopping online. Buyers should beware and know their rights.

Buying from eBay

If you’re using eBay or another auction website to buy an electrical item then you’re more at risk – the Distance Selling Regulations don’t apply to goods bought at auction, so you’ll have no automatic right to return an item if you change your mind.

Ask about the condition of the goods and make sure they’re in working order before bidding.

Check the seller’s terms of sale and see if they will accept returns and what their policy is.

If you decide to pay the ‘Buy it Now’ price then you’re covered by the Distance Selling Regulations – although, personalised items are excluded from this.

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